The decision was made to drive up to Laura earlier. I want to spend a couple of days in the outback before I kick off. Maria and Peter are agreeable and we are ready to take off early morning. We have to stop at the hardware in Mossman to buy a few necessities. Norm, the guy full of humour who is helping us to get what we need cannot get why "good looking" women is doing such a crazy things..he seems to be a Melbournian by the origin and aparently has done a lot of south/north travelling.... He is turning his head sideways in disbelief but he is wishing me all the best - "I can see your determination, you are going to do it" are his last words... I wish he is right.
It is about 253 kms between port Douglas and Laura. We were advised by locals who told us that two wheel drive vehicle should have no problem driving up there. They were right but we still experience strips of gravel road "White horse" (our car) is not impressed but Peter is a good driver, he is driving very gently and I think "White horse" does not mind the road at all.
We had a few stops along the way and it is late afternoon by now. Peter gets nervous it is getting dark. Laura is still not on the horizont. The bevy of black parrots is disturbed by the incoming car. They are confusingly flying all over the road. Peter quickly steps on the breaks but the accident is unavoidable. On of them hits car window. We all get upset. It is the last thing we wish on our journey - to hurt anything. I have a bit of cry but there was nothing we could do...
We arrive to Laura at dusk. I am immediately absorbed by its tranquility. The place is so different to touristic Port Douglas. You feel the ancient spirit there.
The camping ground next to the pub is full. There is a group of people from Brisbane driving up to Cape York on buggies to raise money for flying doctors. Good on them. One of the team members - a lady in her forties is approaching us with a donation box. We drop in all coins and small dollar notes we have available. Maria is eagerly telling her that also we are a "team on the mission" and to our surprise we get some donation in our can too. It works all right - you give and you get.
After a bit of negotiation we get a spot in the camp ground. It suits Peter fine - he can have his so much desired beer. He certainly deserves it. He was driving the whole day. The sky is so clear and I find a quite spot... I am shutting off and staring to the stars.
The stress of the unknown I am still carrying with me is melting down.......
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